Non-toxic Healthcare:
Alternatives to Phthalates and
Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Table of contents
FOREWORD
4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
6
INTRODUCTION
8
Hazards of chemicals contained in medical devices
Hazards for human health
Exposure through medical devices
Hazards for the environment
The European legal framework on hazardous chemicals in medical devices
Why publish this report now?
CHAPTER 1: SUBSTITUTING HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN MEDICAL DEVICES
Governmental initiatives
Non-governmental initiatives
AC K N OW LED G ME NTS
Author: Maria José Amaral, PhD
Research: Maria José Amaral, PhD,
Cristina Grigore – HCWH Europe, Paul Whaley
With special thanks to: Grazia Cioci – HCWH Europe,
Ted Schettler, PhD – Science and Environmental Health Network, Ruth Stringer – HCWH
Editor: Mary Taylor
Copyright of images: Shutterstock.com
Design: Emily J Fischer | www.emilyjfischer.com
Published 31 December 2014
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CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES TO PHTHALATES
22
CHAPTER 3: ALTERNATIVES TO BISPHENOL A
26
CHAPTER 4: BEST PRACTICES IN EUROPEAN HEALTHCARE
30
Hospital of Southern Jutland substitution project (Denmark)
32
Stockholm County Council’s phase-out list (Sweden)
32
Karolinska University Hospital substitution programme (Sweden)
33
PVC-free Paediatrics and Neonatology Department in the Westfriesgasthuis (Netherlands) 33
PVC-free Neonatal Intensive Care Units of the Vienna Hospitals Association (Austria)
33
CHAPTER 5: RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS OF HEALTH CARE WITHOUT HARM EUROPE 34
HCWH Europe’s Recommendations
Conclusions
REFERENCES
35
37
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Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Foreword
Prevention of disease is an essential part of
healthcare. We vaccinate our children to stimulate immunity. We operate with sterile instruments to prevent infection. We educate pregnant mothers in order to promote foetal health.
As physicians we took an oath to treat our
patients in the best manner possible, and we
swore to “first do no harm”. Preventing disease
is still better than treating it. And that is what
this report is about: choosing better alternatives
in daily healthcare, in order to prevent disease
further down the line.
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a widely used plastic. It is often made more flexible by the use of
the phthalate DEHP, long considered to have
toxic characteristics. The European Union has
banned the use of DEHP in toys for children
under the age of 3 years (1999/815/EC). Young
children tend to put toys in their mouths and
DEHP leaches out of the plastics, exposing the
developing child to the chemical. One of the
first campaigns of HCWH Europe was to eliminate DEHP, the most commonly used phthalate,
in intravenous drips. We’ve known for decades
that phthalates leach out of medical devices
such as tubing. Yet better alternatives were not
available thirty years ago. That is no longer the
case. It is then a matter of choice: do we choose
better alternatives or do we choose to ignore
the potential danger to the patients we are trying to treat? There is mounting evidence of endocrine disruption: unintentionally influencing
hormone systems is unwise. We have seen an
increase in breast and testicular cancers, in thyroid disorders, and infertility throughout Europe
over the last decades. It is then alarming to note
that these endocrine systems are influenced by
phthalates.
Similarly, bisphenol A (BPA) has been linked to
endocrine disruption. This report presents the
evidence in a clear and concise manner. BPA
4
was initially developed as a synthetic oestrogen
in 1891. Due to the availability of more potent
synthetic oestrogens, such as thalidomide, BPA
was not widely used until the second half of the
twentieth century. Now it is a major part of daily
life: from the ink of cash register paper to the
linings of beverage cans – and in medical devices. Until recently BPA was also found in baby
bottles.
A number of years ago the American Medical
Association issued a statement encouraging
healthcare providers to reduce the use of products containing PVC and DEHP, and to choose
better alternatives (Res. 502, A-06). Many European healthcare providers have also made a
conscious choice to eliminate PVC, DEHP and
BPA from daily healthcare. A number of examples are discussed in this report. But still not
enough is being done. This is partly due to limited political will. Although a number of European
countries, such as Denmark and France, have
taken bold steps towards elimination, European
legislation is still lacking. Currently, the EU Directives on medical devices are under revision
and a new proposal for a regulation on medical
devices is under discussion in the European institutions. It would be disappointing should economic issues prevail above doing what is right:
protecting our patients and preventing disease.
This report presents evidence that policy makers
should not ignore. The report is a plea to politicians and governing bodies to adopt stringent
legislation to eliminate the use of PVC, DEHP and
BPA in healthcare. Legislation would stimulate
healthcare providers to choose better products.
What could be more important than the health
of Europe’s citizens?
Gavin W. ten Tusscher, MD, PhD, paediatrician
Westfriesgasthuis, Hoorn, Netherlands
Non-toxic
Alternatives
to Phthalates
and Bisphenol
A in Medical
Devices
Non-toxicHealthcare:
Healthcare:
Alternatives
to Phthalates
and Bisphenol
A in Medical
Devices
Executive Summary
Medical devices play a critical role in healthcare
but may contain hazardous substances in their
composition that can leach out into patients
during their use, compromising patient safety.
Concerns have been raised by different societal
groups, including governmental bodies, healthcare professionals, scientific researchers and
civil society organisations, regarding the potential health effects of chemical exposure through
medical devices to vulnerable groups of the
population.
At the end of 2012, the European Commission
adopted a proposal for a Reg“HCWH Europe’s mission is ulation to recast the existing
Directives on medical devicto transform the healthcare
sector so that it is ecologically es. In its report, the European Parliament voted in favour
sustainable and no longer
of an amendment that would
a source of harm to public
strengthen the current rules
health and the environment.” on hazardous substances in
medical devices, enforcing the
phase-out of these substances when safer alternatives are available.
Substances that are commonly present in medical devices and which are of particular concern
are phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA). Phthalates
are commonly used as softeners in PVC-based
medical devices while BPA is used in a variety of
plastics with applications in the medical device
industry. One of the major reasons of concern
with these substances is that they are endocrine
disrupting chemicals that may interfere with the
normal functioning of the endocrine system and
present a hazard to different physiological and
developmental processes.
Health Care Without Harm Europe’s mission is
to transform the healthcare sector so that it is
ecologically sustainable and no longer a source
of harm to public health and the environment.
At the same time, this must happen without
6
compromising patient safety or care. This report
is part of HCWH Europe’s work to raise awareness on the presence of hazardous substances
in medical devices and the risks to patients, and
most importantly to promote the substitution of
these substances by showing that many alternatives with better toxicological profiles are available on the market. Change is not only possible
but it is already on the way. This change is being led by certain manufacturers, governments,
health systems, hospitals and health practitioners and needs to be further encouraged and
supported by political and regulatory action.
HCWH Europe proposes a number of specific
recommendations to promote a move towards
non-toxic healthcare, minimising the hazards to
patients without compromising medical care:
• European legislation should protect the
most vulnerable groups and create the
conditions to rapidly reduce or eliminate
human exposure to hazardous chemicals
such as phthalates and bisphenol A contained in medical devices;
• Standards for pre-market evaluation of
medical devices should include more data
on chemicals used in medical devices and
allow a performance comparison of individual substances;
• The market authorisation process for medical devices needs increased transparency;
• Sustainable procurement guidelines
should provide incentives for the substitution of hazardous chemicals in medical
devices;
• Labelling requirements for hazardous
chemicals in medical devices should be
expanded;
• Funding for research and development of
alternative substances and products and
for clinical and epidemiological projects
that compare the performance of these alternatives should be prioritised. 7
Non-toxic
Alternatives
to Phthalates
and Bisphenol
A in Medical
Devices
Non-toxicHealthcare:
Healthcare:
Alternatives
to Phthalates
and Bisphenol
A in Medical
Devices
Hazards of chemicals contained in medical devices
Introduction
Medical devices (see Box 1) are essential in
healthcare, playing an important role in prevention, diagnosis, monitoring and treatment
of diseases and disabilities. Hazardous chemicals are present in medical devices as additives
to improve plastic performance. These additives can represent
a high percentage of
the final product and
include, among others, plasticisers, flame
retardants,
fillers,
colourings,
impact
modifiers and stabilisers. Many of these
substances can leach
out of the product and
have adverse effects
on human health and
the environment.
Concerns regarding hazardous chemical exposure through medical devices are particularly
relevant to groups of vulnerable patients that
undergo multiple medical interventions or are
exposed chronically over extended periods,
including infants in neonatal care or dialysis
patients.
Substances that are commonly found in medical devices and are of particular concern are
phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) (see Boxes 2
and 3). These substances have been the subject
of an intense political debate in recent years
due to their widespread use in consumer products and the risks they pose to human health
and the environment.
In September 2012, the European Commission
adopted a new proposal for the regulation of
medical devices to recast the existing Directives
on medical devices (Proposal for a Regulation
8
of the European Parliament and of the Council on medical devices, and amending Directive
2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and
Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). The Council of
the European Union and the European Parliament are currently debating this new proposal. Despite the many claims that exposure to
hazardous chemicals through medical devices
represents a small proportion of an individual’s
overall exposure, the European Parliament has
recognised that this exposure can be harmful
for patients and should be avoided whenever
possible. Therefore, the European Parliament
approved an amendment to the medical devices proposal that calls for the phase-out of
hazardous chemicals in medical devices where
safer alternatives are available (1).
BOX 1
Definition of medical device under
the European Union legislation
(Directive 2007/47/EC)
“…any instrument, apparatus, appliance, software, material or other article, whether used
alone or in combination, together with any accessories, including the software intended by its
manufacturer to be used specifically for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes and necessary
for its proper application, intended by the manufacturer to be used for medical purposes for human beings for the purpose of:
• diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, alleviation
of or compensation for an injury or handicap,
• investigation, replacement or modification
of the anatomy or of a physiological process,
• control of conception,
and which does not achieve its principal intended action in or on the human body by pharmacological, immunological or metabolic means,
but which may be assisted in its function by such
means.”
Human biomonitoring studies have detected hazardous chemicals like phthalates and
BPA in almost every individual analysed and
in a variety of human tissues and fluids such
as placental tissue, breast milk, amniotic fluid,
urine, blood and saliva (2-5). One of the major
reasons for concern is that phthalates and BPA
are endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that
can mimic or otherwise interfere with hormone
production or function—and as such can interfere with organ formation and growth, sexual
maturation, stress response, behaviour, appetite and thirst (6). An increase in the incidence
of diseases and illnesses in humans at the different stages of life, from neonatal and infancy
through to adulthood, has been associated with
exposure to these substances (5, 6).
As traditional risk assessment procedures lack
integration of endocrinology concepts, the effects of EDCs in human health and the environment are mostly dismissed. In particular, effects
from early life exposures, chronic low-dose exposures and the fact that humans are exposed
to a large number of chemicals simultaneously
are not taken into consideration.
Researchers and healthcare practitioners are
particularly concerned that exposure to these
substances through medical devices adds to
exposure from other sources since these compounds are ubiquitous and the entire population is already exposed. Moreover, vulnerable
population groups, such as babies, children,
pregnant and breast-feeding women and the
elderly are not adequately protected from the
risk of exposure to these chemicals.
BOX 2
What are phthalates?
Phthalates are a group of chemical substances,
primarily used as plasticisers (softeners) in plastics to make them more flexible. Depending on
the number of carbon atoms in their alkyl sidechains they are divided into high-chain length
(e.g., DINP, DIDP, DPHP and DIUP) with more than
six carbons, transitional-chain length (e.g., DEHP,
DBP, DIBP and BBP) with three to six carbons and
low-chain length (e.g., DEP and DMP) with less
than three carbons. They are abundant in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) medical devices such as blood
bags, intravenous bags, nutrition pockets, tubing,
catheters, respiratory masks or disposable gloves.
More than 40% of all plastic-based disposable
medical devices are made from PVC.
Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has been for
many years the most commonly used phthalate
ester plasticiser in medical devices. A recent survey among the Danish Medical Device Industry
found that 95% of the products contained DEHP
(7). DEHP can contribute up to 40% of weight
of intravenous bags and up to 80% of weight in
medical tubing (8). DEHP, like other phthalates,
can leach out of the plastic matrix and accumulate in tissues. DEHP has received great attention
due to its production volumes and wide usage,
particularly in PVC plastic. Leaching of DEHP
from PVC medical devices has been documented
since the late 1960s (9, 10).
A precautionary approach, eliminating exposure to hazardous chemicals wherever possible
is appropriate in the case of medical devices as
the users will be primarily from these vulnerable populations or maybe rendered more susceptible to toxic insult through illness.
9
Non-toxic
Alternatives
to Phthalates
and Bisphenol
A in Medical
Devices
Non-toxicHealthcare:
Healthcare:
Alternatives
to Phthalates
and Bisphenol
A in Medical
Devices
BOX 3
What is bisphenol A?
BisphenoloAo(4,4-dihydroxy-2,2-diphenylpropane or BPA) is a chemical substance used as a
monomer in the production of polymers such as
polycarbonate (PC), epoxy resins, polysulfone,
polyacrylate, as an antioxidant and inhibitor in
the polymerisation of PVC and as a precursor for
the synthesis of the flame retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). An estimated 1.5 million
tonnes are used in Europe, the majority (80%) in
the production of polycarbonates (11).
In healthcare settings, BPA applications include
devices made of polycarbonate, polysulfone and
PVC that have both direct and indirect contact
with patients such as medical tubing, catheters,
haemodialysers, newborn incubators, syringes,
surgical trays, blood oxygenators, eye lenses,
nebulisers and dental sealants and coatings (12).
BPA derivatives are used also in dentistry applications. BPA has been shown to leach from various materials into liquids as a result of diffusion
of residual BPA left during the manufacture and
hydrolysis of PC polymers (13).
Hazards for human health
There is growing evidence that many phthalates and BPA can present a hazard to human
health. Evidence comes from clinical and epidemiological studies, animal and in vitro studies
encompassing both prenatal and postnatal exposures (see Box 4 for an overview of types of
scientific evidence).
Some phthalates are documented or suspected endocrine disrupting substances, which
can inhibit the production of testosterone in
the testes (14). In human studies, in utero and
post-natal exposure to phthalates has been
linked with reduced ano-genital indices, reproductive alterations (low sperm concentration,
endometriosis, hypospadias, shorter pregnancy duration, etc.), changes in neurobehaviour
in neonates, infants and children, cholestasis,
dermatitis, heart disease and perturbations in
inflammatory responses (15-17). A recent study
reinforced that even low level exposures to
DEHP during pregnancy can affect male genital
10
development (18). Exposure to phthalates has
also been linked to obesity, diabetes and asthma (3, 10, 19).
In animal studies exposure to phthalates has
been tied to toxicity in different organs, carcinogenicity and a series of reproductive problems in both males and females. The effects of
DEHP in animals has been thoroughly revised
in the latest Scientific Committee on Emerging
and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR)
draft opinion on the safety of DEHP in medical devices (20). In the case of DEHP there are
different sensitivities in reproductive endpoints
in different age groups and in various animal
species (20). Among other effects, exposure to
phthalates has been tied to testicular dysgenesis, hypofertility, polycystic ovaries, birth defects, cancer, altered brain development, haematological, metabolic and pulmonary troubles
(21).
BPA is an endocrine disrupting chemical able
to interfere with the action of estrogenic hormones that are essential for the development
and function of the reproductive system. It is
also able to interfere with the action of other
endocrine receptors, such as the thyroid hormones, which are important in the regulation
of metabolism and the development of the
nervous system (22). A recent review identified more than 75 studies where exposures to
BPA were associated with health effects in humans, including reproductive effects (erectile
dysfunction, miscarriage), thyroid, immune and
metabolic diseases (diabetes) (22). Despite the
different study designs, times of exposure and
studies with subsets of populations and the difficulty of deducing causal links in epidemiology,
the increasing numbers of studies associating
exposure to BPA with effects on human health
raises serious concerns. Exposure in utero has
been linked with spontaneous abortion, childhood obesity, neurodevelopment impairments,
respiratory conditions and behaviour alterations
(anxiousness, hyperactivity, depression) (23-26).
An expert appraisal by the French Agency for
Food, Environmental and Occupational Health &
Safety (ANSES) concluded that “exposure of pregnant women to BPA posed a risk to the mammary
gland of the unborn children” (11). In animal studies, foetal exposure to BPA has been linked with
earlier onset of puberty and increased rates of
breast and prostate cancer (27).
BOX 4
Research needs
Clinical research
There is only a limited amount of research that
has evaluated chemicals used in medical devices in healthcare settings. But such work could in
theory provide relevant data to help establish the
potential benefits of using one type of alternative over another. Clinical research can provide
the strongest evidence of the potential toxic effects of a substance on human health, but there
are obvious ethical limitations regarding human
experimentation.
Epidemiological research
Epidemiological research is the most relevant for
human health, but relies on finding strong correlations between exposure and disease, which
may take many years to establish. However, it is
very difficult to establish specific biological effects, as effects may occur at different periods
after exposure and/or the effects can be very
subtle.
Animal studies
Fully controlled studies of the specific biological
effects of particular substances using an animal
model could be undertaken. In most cases such
studies offer the best evidence available for a
particular substance, although the results may
not be extrapolated easily to humans.
In vitro studies
In vitro studies may allow the study in isolation
of the mechanism by which a substance has an
effect, but because they study the cells or biological molecules outside their normal biological
context it can be challenging to extrapolate their
results to human health.
Exposure through
medical devices
Exposure to hazardous chemicals through medical devices can be enteral (digestive tract),
parenteral (intravenous), transcutaneous or
through inhalation. Dietary exposure to phthalates and BPA is expected to account for the majority of human exposure. However, non-dietary
exposure has not always been well documented. In the case of phthalates, and particularly
for DEHP, several studies have described leaching from medical devices and have recorded
levels in urine and blood (28). According to the
latest report on DEHP exposure through medical devices by SCENIHR, premature neonates in
neonatal intensive care units, infants subjected
to repeated medical treatment using medical
devices and patients undergoing haemodialysis
are at risk of DEHP-induced effects (20). Recent
studies show exposure to phthalates in both
premature and healthy full term infants (29).
DEHP exposures in neonates in intensive care
are much higher than estimated safe limits and
might contribute to common early and chronic
complications of prematurity (30).
FI G 1. Medical devices are one of a number
of sources of exposure to phthalates and
other endocrine disrupting chemicals.
11
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
For BPA, data on leaching and exposure in patients undergoing medical treatment is lacking.
Nevertheless, leaching of BPA and increased
levels in urine have been reported (31). Length
of contact time, temperature and pH, among
other parameters, have been shown to increase
the release of BPA from polycarbonate (12).
Several authors have also described leaching of
BPA from haemodialysers (32).
•
•
A number of observations from the scientific literature follow, confirming the link between use
of plastics in medical devices and exposure of
patients to phthalates and/or BPA.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
12
Ventilated newborns with high levels of
DEHP experienced respiratory degradation associated with progressive radiological infiltrates (33).
Patients undergoing regular continuous
ambulatory peritoneal dialysis using
plasticiser-free devices had reduced
levels of phthalates in urine and blood
(34).
Serum DEHP levels in blood from
healthy donors that were subjected to
apheresis increased by 232% (35).
A strong monotonic association was
found between the use of DEHP-containing medical devices and urinary
concentrations of three DEHP metabolites in infants receiving care in two
neonatal intensive care units (36).
BPA was found to leach into the blood
of patients during dialysis with a dialyser housing made of polycarbonate (37,
38).
Infants in neonatal intensive care units
using a large number of PVC-containing medical devices had urinary BPA
concentrations one order of magnitude
higher than the median concentration
and almost twice that of the 95th percentile of the general population in the
US (39).
The use of infusion systems containing
DEHP for total parenteral nutrition was
linked with a 5-6 times increase in the
risk of cholestasis in infants in neonatal intensive care units. Moreover, the
level of cholestasis in neonates was reduced from 50% to 13% in neonates fed
through a DEHP-free catheter (40).
•
Premature infants in neonatal intensive
care units undergoing treatment were
found to have BPA levels 10 times higher than the general population, presumably from BPA leaching from medical devices (41).
Women who had been recently subjected to a caesarean procedure had elevated levels of BPA and DEHP metabolites
when compared with females who had
had a natural delivery (2). The authors
hypothesised that this was due to the
use of urinary bags for those undergoing caesareans.
DEHP leached from endotracheal tubes
immediately after being used in highrisk newborns (42). Premature neonates receiving treatment through
feeding tubes and endotracheal tubes
had increased levels of DEHP in their
urine (43).
Levels of DEHP metabolites in urine
were related to the number of DEHP-containing medical devices. Within six hours, neonates receiving lipid-based infusates through a PVC
infusion line received a DEHP dose
exceeding the lower limit of the tolerable total daily intake (14, 44).
BOX 5
Medical procedures with potential
for high exposure to DEHP (12)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Exchange transfusion of blood in neonates
Extracorporeal membrane
oxygenation (ECMO) treatment
of neonates and of adults
Total Parenteral Nutrition
(TPN) in neonates
Multiple procedures in sick neonates
Haemodialysis in peripubertal males
Haemodialysis in pregnant
or lactating women
Enteral nutrition in neonates and adults
Heart transplantation or coronary
artery bypass graft surgery
Massive blood transfusion of
red blood cells and plasma
BOX 6
Are neonates and children more vulnerable?
The levels of exposure to hazardous chemicals
are of particular concern for unborn children,
neonates and children. These groups are being exposed to hazardous chemicals at a highly vulnerable moment when various aspects of
their development can be altered, perhaps with
lifelong consequences. Furthermore, their low
body weight means the exposure can be higher
per kilogram than for adults. Premature babies
are subject to an even higher risk due to their
lower birth weight combined with the fact they
require many medical interventions. In addition,
the unborn and young are not able to metabolise
chemical substances in the same way as adults,
due to the on-going development of their organs
and maturation of the different systems. For example, the glucuronidation mechanisms that are
responsible for the excretion of some phthalate
metabolites are not fully developed before the
age of 3 months (3). Finally, expected longer life
spans could mean that this group will be exposed
for a longer time to these substances. All these
factors may put this group at an increased risk of
suffering deleterious effects.
Hazards for the environment
Phthalates and BPA have been detected in
aquatic and marine environments, terrestrial
ecosystems and in the atmosphere in concentrations that are likely to adversely affect a
number of species (45, 46). These substances have also been shown to bioaccumulate in
some species of molluscs and crustaceans (47).
relevant concentrations of BPA have shown
detrimental effects in invertebrates and all vertebrate classes (46). Similarly, exposure to different phthalates and/or their metabolites has
caused adverse effects at various endpoints in
aquatic organisms at environmentally relevant
exposures (48).
Phthalates and BPA can reach the environment
from industrial discharges, sewage, landfill
leachates and natural breakdown of plastics in
the environment. BPA is classified as “moderately toxic” and “toxic” to aquatic organisms by
the European Commission and the US Environmental Protection Agency respectively based
on data reported from aquatic invertebrates
and vertebrates (46). Data collected from wildlife studies, laboratory experiments and in vitro
studies show that exposure to environmentally
Besides the chemical contamination of a wide
range of natural habitats, these compounds
also create a waste management problem. The
disposal of PVC medical waste can release dioxins and other persistent environmental pollutants, which can have a detrimental impact on
human health and the environment.
13
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
The European legal framework on hazardous
chemicals in medical devices
In the EU, manufacturers of medical devices
have to comply not only with the Directives on
medical devices but also with the regulations
on chemicals in products – the EU Regulation
1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation,
Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
(REACH) and the EU Directive 2011/65/EU on
the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS II).
The RE AC H Re gul ati on
The REACH Regulation (Article 3.3) differentiates between medical devices that are chemical
substances on their own or as mixtures (e.g.,
dental filling materials, bone cements, etc.) and
articles where the function is not determined
by the chemical composition (e.g., catheters,
medical implants, diagnostic instruments, etc.).
The first type of medical device is subject to
most of the requirements of REACH, including
registration, while articles are usually exempted
(Articles 60(2) and 62(6)).
Article 60(2) states: “The Commission shall not
consider the risks to human health arising from
the use of a substance in a medical device regulated by Council Directive 90/385/EEC of 20 June
1990 on the approximation of the laws of the
Member States relating to active implantable
medical devices, Council Directive 93/42/EEC of 14
June 1993 concerning medical devices or Directive
98/79/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council of 27 October 1998 on in vitro diagnostic
medical devices.” Nonetheless, suppliers, distributors or retailers of medical devices have
the duty to communicate information (within
45 days) about the presence of Substances of
Very High Concern (SVHCs) if requested by a
consumer (Article 33) (49).
Several phthalates are classified as toxic for reproduction under the EU Regulation (EC) No
1272/2008 on the classification, labelling and
packaging of substances and mixtures (the CLP
Regulation) and are listed on the Candidate
List of SVHCs under REACH (see Box 7). In the
14
case of BPA, in March 2014, the Risk Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals
Agency adopted an opinion that BPA should
be classified as toxic to reproduction based on
animal experiments – Category 1B (50). If BPA
becomes officially recognised in this category, it
will become eligible to be classified as an SVHC.
fluids or substances, contain phthalates which
are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic
to reproduction, of category 1 or 2, in accordance
with Annex I to Directive 67/548/EEC, these devices
must be labelled on the device itself and/or on the
packaging for each unit or, where appropriate, on
the sales packaging as a device containing phthalates” (Figure 2). The Directive also specifies that
if such devices are intended to treat children or
pregnant or nursing women, the manufacturer
should provide justification for the use of these
substances, information on residual risks for
these patient groups and if applicable, advise
on appropriate precautionary measures.
RoHS II Directiv e
The RoHS II Directive (2011/65/EU) was adopted to limit the concentration of six hazardous
substances (including lead, mercury and toxic flame retardants) in electric and electronic
products. From July 2014, the RoHS II Directive
also applies to electric and electronic medical
devices. In vitro medical devices will be covered
from July 2016 and active implantable medical
devices are exempted. Additional seven-year
exemptions have been added (Annex IV) for
products for which a reliable alternative is not
available. Currently, RoHS II covers neither
phthalates nor BPA, but a revision of the substances limited under RoHS is expected in the
near future.
Medical Dev ices Direct iv es
According to the current EU medical devices
Directives (90/385/EEC, 93/42/EEC, 98/79/EC
and 2007/47/EC), medical devices have to be
manufactured so that the risks posed by leaking substances are reduced to a minimum, with
special attention given to substances that are
carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (CMRs). However, the regulatory framework does not include concrete mechanisms
to phase out these substances within specific
deadlines or enforce the development of safer
alternatives.
Instead there are only two specifications, the
first on labelling (2007/47/EC): “If parts of a
device (or a device itself) intended to administer and/or remove medicines, body liquids or
other substances to or from the body, or devices
intended for transport and storage of such body
The European Commission has adopted a new
proposal - COM(2012) 542 final - to recast the existing Directives (Proposal for a Regulation of the
European Parliament and of the Council on medical devices, and amending Directive 2001/83/
EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation
(EC) No 1223/2009). The proposal has been under intense debate. The European Parliament
has voted favourably on several amendments
to the Commission’s text, while the Member
States, through the Council of the European
Union, have not yet adopted a position.
BOX 7
Phthalates in the Candidate List of
Substances of Very High Concern (REACH)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
DHP: Dihexyl phthalate (CAS 84-75-3)
DPP: Dipentyl phthalate (CAS 131-18-0)
DIPP: Diisopentyl phthalate (CAS 605-50-5)
DIBP: Diisobutyl phthalate (CAS 84-69-5)
BBP: Benzylbutyl phthalate (CAS 85-68-7)
DEHP: Bis(2-ethylhexyl)
phthalate (CAS 117-81-7)
DBP: Dibutyl phthalate (CAS 84-74-2)
1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid,
dipentylester, branched and
linear (CAS 84777-06-0)
PIPP: n-pentyl-isopentylphthalate
(CAS 776297-69-9)
DMEP: Bis(2-methoxyethyl)
phthalate (CAS 117-82-8)
FI G 2 . Example of DEHP labelling
PHT DEHP
PHT
DEHP
Why publish this report now?
Alternative substances and materials have become available in recent years for many of the
most hazardous chemicals used in medical devices, such as phthalates and BPA. Alternatives
tend to appear when legislators, procurers and
patients demand them. However, the surge of
new alternatives has not been accompanied by
a surge of data on their safety, and regrettable
substitutions must be avoided. In this report,
we discuss why society is demanding a phaseout of phthalates and BPA in medical devices,
provide information on how these substitutions
can be promoted and achieved, and give an
overview of which alternatives are available for
phthalates and BPA.
HCWH Europe is not alone in supporting a
precautionary approach and the phase-out of
hazardous chemicals in medical devices whenever possible. A number of non-governmental
organisations, consumer organisations, unions,
researchers, healthcare professionals and,
more recently, the members of the European
Parliament have noted that the substitution
of hazardous chemicals by safer alternatives is
needed. As Kambia and co-authors stated more
than ten years ago in the International Journal
of Pharmaceutics, when exposure to hazardous
chemicals in medical devices can be avoided
through careful selection of materials, not carrying out such substitution is both unprofessional and undesirable (51).
15
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Chapter 1
Substituting hazardous chemicals in medical devices
Exposure to phthalates or BPA can be minimised by adopting a precautionary approach
and replacing medical devices with phthalate-free and BPA-free devices which can provide the same efficiency. The precautionary
principle is enshrined in Article 191 of the Treaty
on the Functioning of the European Union (EU)
and aims to ensure a high level of environmental, consumer and human health protection
through preventive decision-making in the case
of risk. Nevertheless, the principle is rarely applied in practice and decision makers prefer to
wait until overwhelming scientific evidence is
gathered – often taking a long time to achieve,
and potentially delaying action to a point where
risks and effects cannot be undone.
On the European market, several manufacturers offer products where phthalates/PVC or
BPA have been replaced by alternative materials or substances. In the case of the phthalates,
phthalate-free or PVC-free medical devices are
available for nearly all product categories except blood bags. This is nonetheless expected
to change in the near future thanks to an EU
pilot project (see Box 8).
Many hospitals have already made considerable progress, having adopted phase-out policies and committing to using products that are
less harmful for patients (see Chapter 4). However, most of these initiatives are happening in
such hospitals only due to the commitment of
individuals because of the lack of the necessary
political or regulatory support.
In a project for the European Commission’s
Directorate General Environment, the Swedish
Environmental Management Council developed
a set of EU Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria with regards to electrical and electronic
medical devices. In July 2014, the Commission
published these voluntary GPP criteria. The
draft criterion on BPA entailed the phase-out
of BPA in certain parts of specific medical devices that come into contact with the body of
patients. Regrettably, the initially agreed and
envisaged criterion on BPA was excluded and
does not appear in the final published version.
BOX 8
The PVC-free Blood Bag Project
The PVC-free Blood Bag Project is a Life+ collaborative project between industry and the healthcare sector that aims to demonstrate that it is
possible to produce a blood bag without using
PVC and to increase market demand. Four European companies are working together to produce this blood bag. The project, which should
be completed in 2016, is now in a testing phase.
PVC-free blood bag prototypes are being tested
in the Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden.
Readers working in the healthcare sector who
would like to support the project are able to sign
an online petition available at the project’s website (www.pvcfreebloodbag.eu). This will help
show demand for PVC-free blood bags.
16
17
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Governmental initiatives
Three European countries, Denmark, France
and Germany, have taken legislative steps to reduce the use of phthalates and/or BPA. All three
countries have addressed – to varying degrees
– the issue of DEHP-containing medical devices. These actions provide welcome political
support to efforts to improve healthcare in this
regard. The Nordic Council of Ministers, the official inter-governmental body for cooperation
in the Nordic Region also promotes the Swan
Ecolabel, which among other product categories also includes certain healthcare products.
The Danish e xam pl e
Denmark introduced a national ban on DEHP,
DBP, DIBP and BBP under
its national phthalate strateT H E MA I N G OA L IS TO :
gy, initially set for December
2013, later postponed to 2015,
“take initiatives to ensure
and challenged in July 2014
a continued reduction
by the European Commission
of the use of classified
(52). The ban was only appliphthalates in medical devices cable to consumer products
whenever possible without
and did not cover medical decompromising patient safety vices. Nonetheless, the Danish Health Minister had also
and to constantly work to
minimise the use of classified supported the phasing out of
phthalates in medical devicphthalates in general”.
es, pushing for the creation of
partnerships between industry, national authorities and experts to call for
a European phase-out within a reasonable time
frame (53).
Within the phthalate strategy, in 2013 the Danish Health and Medicines Authority (DHMA)
published a set of guidelines to help Danish
regions and municipalities reduce the use of
particular types of phthalates in medical devices by means of their general purchasing policy (54). The main goal is to: “take initiatives to
ensure a continued reduction of the use of classified phthalates in medical devices whenever possible without compromising patient safety and to
constantly work to minimise the use of classified
phthalates in general”.
18
The DHMA suggests including a “free of classified phthalates” requirement as a competition
requirement in the tender process that would
be preferably, but not necessarily, fulfilled. Thus
suppliers would gain an advantage if they fulfilled this requirement, providing an incentive
and contributing to phasing out phthalates in
medical devices. The guidelines provide examples of requirements and suggest that requirements should also be established for invasive
medical devices not covered by the labelling
rules. The guidelines focus on a progressive
phase-out of the use of phthalates in medical
devices.
The Danish Ministry of Environment also collated a list of medical devices that do not contain
any of the phthalates that are subject to compulsory labelling. The goal of the list was to inspire procurement officers and others involved
in purchasing medical devices (55).
T he French exa mple
In December 2012, the French Senate approved
a law that bans, for the first time, the use of
tubes containing DEHP in paediatric, neonatology and maternity wards (Law No. 2012-1442 –
Article L. 5214-1). The ban, which will enter into
force in July 2015, foresees the possibility to also
prohibit the use of DEHP and other phthalates
like DBP and BBP in all medical devices if alternative materials are available and the safety of
the device is guaranteed. The same legislative
act also introduces a ban on food packaging
containing BPA intended to come into direct
contact with food.
T he German example
In May 2006, the German Federal Institute for
Drugs and Medical Devices issued a recommendation (Reference Nr.: 9211/0506) to push
hospitals to minimise or avoid the use of DEHP-containing medical devices in specific population groups, including premature babies
and newborns, infants and toddlers, children
and adolescents, pregnant women and nursing mothers (56). The recommendation also includes a call for manufacturers to step up their
production of alternative products. However,
as this recommendation is only voluntary it is
difficult to assess how it has been applied across
the different German hospitals.
Th e N o rd i c o r Sw an E co l ab el
The Nordic or Swan Ecolabel (www.nordic-ecolabel.org) is a known and trusted ecolabel. Introduced by the Nordic Council of Ministers,
the label is an official, but voluntary, ecolabel
for the Nordic countries. The label covers more
than sixty product categories and now includes
disposable healthcare products that do not contain PVC or harmful plasticisers. In the case of
healthcare products it covers disposable products intended and marketed for intravenous
(IV) infusion treatment, peritoneal dialysis
treatment, treatment of urinary retention and
incontinence and also ostomy pouches and accessories for treatment following ileostomy, colostomy or ureterostomy surgery. In the future,
the label might be extended to more product
categories, depending on request from manufacturers.
Manufacturers interested in carrying the ecolabel on their products agree to follow a number of requirements that include environmental, quality and health criteria (see Box 9) (57).
Compliance with the requirements for a specific
product is assessed via independent laboratories, certification procedures and on-site inspections.
BOX 9
Summary of environmental and health
requirements for the Swan label on
disposable healthcare products
• Halogenated plastics, such as PVC, are not
allowed in the product.
• No plasticisers or other additives added to
the plastic nor adhesives used in or on the
various parts of the product may:
• Be classified as, or meet different criteria, of hazard classes or categories of
the EU Dangerous Substances Directive
and Dangerous Preparations Directive
67/548/EC and 99/45/EC as amended and the CLP Regulation (EC) No
1272/2008.
• Have properties categorised in REACH
as substances of very high concern and
similar substances including: CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic or
reprotoxic) categories 1, 2 and 3; PBT
substances (persistent, bioaccumulative
and toxic) and/or vPvB substances (very
persistent and very bioaccumulative);
substances considered to be or have potential to be endocrine disruptors (EDCs)
in accordance with EU reports and lists
concerning EDCs; other substances recorded on the EU’s Candidate List of
SVHC chemicals.
• Contain the phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP,
DINP, DNOP and DIDP.
• The relevant national regulations, laws and/
or industry-wide agreements on recycling
systems for the packaging must comply with
those of the Nordic countries in which the
product will be marketed.
19
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Non-governmental initiatives
The S af e r M e dic al Dev ices
D atabase by HC W H Europe
One of the issues that hospitals face when starting a phase-out programme for phthalates or
BPA is knowing what alternatives are available
and the impact of the new substance. Engagement and communication with manufacturers
is therefore essential. However, this can be a
very time-consuming activity for an individual
hospital. To facilitate this task, HCWH has maintained lists with examples of phthalate-free or
PVC-free medical devices available on the European and North American markets.
In July 2014, HCWH Europe took a step forward
and launched an online listing of phthalate-free
or PVC-free medical products available in the
European market – the Safer Medical Devices
Database (safermedicaldevices.org, see Box
10). The goals of the new open-access webservice are to enable healthcare procurers to
BOX 10
How to use the HCWH Europe
Safer Medical Devices database
Users of the website (safermedicaldevices.org)
can search the database by inputting a search
term of interest. The search returns information
on medical devices that contain the introduced
word or combination of words - their Global
Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) name,
product category, manufacturer and country
where the product is available. An optional tick
box allows users to select only PVC-free products.
The results of the search are downloadable in an
excel file.
Manufacturers of medical devices can register
free of charge on the database to add their products provided they follow the standard questionnaire and submit requested information.
Procurers and users of medical devices working
in healthcare institutions can also register free
of charge to provide comments about the performance and feasibility of particular products
should they have specific knowledge of their use.
20
identify medical devices that do not contain PVC
and/or phthalates and that are already available
on the European market, and to provide market evidence that the phase-out of phthalates
and/or PVC in medical devices is feasible. For
each product category, registered manufacturers can add their products directly into the database (which is maintained and administered
by HCWH Europe). Registered healthcare professionals that procure or use these medical
devices can leave comments on the feasibility
of specific products. In the near future BPA-free
products will also be listed on the database.
T he Sw edish Substit ut ion Li s t
by t he Subst itution Group o n
chemicals
HCWH has not been alone in producing tools to
help healthcare procurers. The Swedish regions
and counties and the Swedish Environmental Management Council, through the national Substitution Group on chemicals, maintain
and regularly update a Substitution List for
hazardous substances in the healthcare sector, available online (www.kkv.se/upphandling/
hallbar-upphandling/stall-hallbarhetskrav/kemikalier/nationella-substitutionsgruppen/).
The Substitution Group is a voluntary initiative
of engaged personnel at Swedish hospitals and
universities who exchange information on safer alternatives for both products and chemicals.
The Substitution List compiles information on
products available in the Swedish market to
help healthcare procurers make healthier and
more informed choices (58). Products are organised by product category (use), and possible
alternatives of the hazardous substances are
listed for each product, including at least one
supplier.
T he Subst itution Port al by
Koopera t ionsstelle Ha mbu rg I FE
GmbH a nd pa rt ners
The Substitution Support Portal – SUBSPORT
(www.subsport.eu) - is a multi-lingual collaborative project coordinated by Kooperationsstelle Hamburg IFE GmbH (a consultancy based
in Germany), the International Chemical Secretariat – ChemSec (a non-profit organisation
based in Sweden), Grontmij (a consultancy
based in Denmark) and the Instituto Sindical de
Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud - ISTAS (a technical
body of one of the Spanish workers unions).
The project aims to provide useful information
on substitution and provide resources to those
interested in substituting hazardous chemicals
in products. The portal contains legal information on substitution throughout Europe, a database of restricted and priority substances, a
compilation of criteria for the identification of
hazardous substances, organisation of training
programmes and provision of materials, discussion forums and a database comprising case
stories.
The Case Story database in the portal can be
searched by substance and/or by sector, including “human health, social work and veterinary activities”. Under this sector, 61 results are
available (in English) including the assessment
of alternative substances for ten substances or
groups of substances of high concern – including BPA – plus several case studies from hospitals (60).
Th e Green S c re e n ® C h e mi c a l s
A l t ern at i ve As s e s s me n t a n d
t h e Pl as t i cs S c o re c a rd b y C l e a n
Pro d u ct i o n Ac ti o n
The GreenScreen® for Safer Chemicals (www.
greenscreenchemicals.org), developed by the
non-profit organisation Clean Production Action, employs an open, transparent methodology to perform chemical hazard assessment. It
is used by a wide range of professionals, governmental and non-governmental bodies and
manufacturers to assess the hazard of chemicals and their potential effect on human health
and the environment. The goal is to push for
the substitution of hazardous chemicals by safer alternatives.
Clean Production Action has used the GreenScreen® to assess and determine the hazard
level of chemicals for its Plastics Scorecard report (61). The report details a method for evaluating the chemical footprint of plastics that can
help guide business, hospitals and individuals
to select safer alternatives. One of the case
studies of the report is the comparison between
two types of plastic IV bags - Polyolefin IV bags
and PVC/DEHP IV bags.
21
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Chapter 2
Alternatives to phthalates
DEHP has long been the principle phthalate
used to soften PVC for the purpose of manufacturing medical devices. There are reports
that the use of DEHP has diminished. However, these reports seem to be anecdotal. In a recent survey of the Denmark medical industry,
95% of the manufacturers still used DEHP (7).
However, 60% of the companies have products
which do not contain phthalates and 80% of
those using phthalates believe that substitution
should not be problematic over a period of 3-5
years (7). Alternative substances for replacing
phthalates exist for a number of products, including the majority of applications in medical
devices (8). The alternatives are sometimes
other plasticisers and sometimes the substitution of PVC with other materials that do not
need a plasticiser
(61, 62).
No clinical studies have systematically compared the health outcomes of different substances used in medical devices, particularly
comparing DEHP and other phthalates with
alternatives. Nonetheless, a few studies from
manufacturers, regulatory agencies, researchers and NGOs have looked into alternatives for
phthalates or PVC in medical devices (20, 60,
63-67). For example, the Dow Corning Corporation compared three common materials used
in catheters: silicones, polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
and latex rubber. The goal of the study was to
provide a strong case for the use of catheters
with silicone traded by Dow Corning Corporation, by focusing on the reduced risk of allergic
responses to silicone as judged by the incidence
of phlebitis, frequency of sepsis, encrustations,
infections and deflation (63).
In 2014, the Danish Environmental Protection
Agency published a report looking at alternative plasticisers in medical devices to DEHP,
22
BBP, DBP and DIBP. The overall purpose of the
report was to come up with a list of alternatives to help guide manufacturers of medical
devices to substitute these plasticisers (65).
The report screened available information existing in the REACH registration dossiers for
a list of substances and found that the values
of the “no effect level” (DNEL) for the general
population were all higher in comparison with
DEHP, meaning these substances would in principle be safer than DEHP (65). In the Plastics
Scorecard report, the plastic footprint of polyolefin and PVC in IV bags was compared (60).
The results of the comparison showed that the
substitution of PVC bags by polyolefin-based
polymers greatly reduced the chemical footprint of the products.
Two research studies also reviewed the existing alternatives to DEHP and PVC in medical
devices and identified several research gaps
(66, 67). These studies supplement a variety of
other studies that have assessed the safety and
performance of specific substances in specific
categories of medical equipment (28).
In the following tables we summarise the applications, advantages, disadvantages, toxicity
and main knowledge gaps of known alternative
plasticisers to phthalates (Table 1) or known alternative polymers to PVC (Table 2) based on
information available in existing reviews, assessments and studies.
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
TABL E 1 . Applications, advantages, disadvantages, toxicity, lowest “no observed adverse effect level”
(NOAEL) and main knowledge gaps of known alternative plasticisers to phthaates in medical devices
(Adapted from references 57 and 58)
Alternative
Plasticiser (CAS)
Acetyl-n-butyl
citrate – ATBC
(77-90-7)
Advantages
NOAEL 20x higher
than DEHP (20)
n-Butyryl-tri-n-hexyl-citrate – BTHC
(82469-79-2)
Leachability into
plasma lower
than DEHP (66)
Metabolised
into physiologic
compounds (66)
Acetyl-tri-n-hexyl
citrate – ATHC
(24817-92-3)
Reduced leaching into various
medium (66)
Trioctyl trimellitate - TOTM/
TEHTM/TETM
(3319-31-1)
Lower leaching
(10x lower than
DEHP)(28)
UV resistance (71)
Di-iso-nonyl-cyclohexane
-1,2-dicarboxylate – Hexamoll® DINCH
(166412-78-8)
Reduced leaching
(3x to 10x lower
than DEHP) (72)
Low environmental
persistence (66)
Low migration
rate (65)
Disadvantages
Toxicity
Data
Lowest NOAEL Application
(no observed
adverse effect
level) (critical
endpoint) (65)
Further
Research
needed
Effects from prolonged exposure
unknown (65, 67)
Data on reproductive
toxicity lacking (65)
Leaching rate
10x higher than
DEHP in feeding
solutions (65, 66)
High volatility (65)
Can bioaccumulate in the
environment (68)
No genotoxicity (65)
Low acute toxicity (20)
Low subchronic toxicity (20)
Reproductive toxicity
effects in body weight
Inhibits the proliferation of lymph
node T cells (68)
300 mg/kg bw/
day (liver weight)
Cost (69)
Incidents of
occupational
dermatitis
reported (70)
Low acute toxicity (20)
Low irritation and
sensitisation (20)
No mutagenic or
genotoxic effects (20)
250 mg/kg bw/
day (liver weight,
enzyme activity)
Low acute toxicity (66)
No genotoxicity (66)
No data
Chemical resemblance to DEHP (66)
Bioaccumulates
in the environment (68)
Low biodegradability (68)
Controversy on
toxicity results
presented by the
manufacturer
and independent
research (20, 68)
Weaker hepatoxicity
than DEHP (20)
Low potential for
sensitization (20)
Toxic via inhalation (68)
Not mutagenic or
carcinogenic (20)
Moderate concern for
reproductive toxicity(65)
100 mg/
kg bw/day
(reproduction)
Low acute toxicity (73)
No reproductive
toxicity (20)
Repeated exposure
caused increased liver,
kidney, thyroid and
testicular weight (20)
Moderate endocrine
activity(65)
40 mg/kg bw/
day (liver/kidney weight)
Blood bags and
medical tubing
(extra-corporeal tubing)
Blood and
storage bags
Data on reproductive
and developmental
toxicity and on
endocrine activity
are needed (65)
Haemodialysis tubing,
blood bags,
infusion sets
Research needed
on the toxicity,
metabolism and
long-term effects
in humans (67)
Limited data on
environmental
effects (68)
Enteral and
haemodialysis
tubing, bags,
respiratory
tubes, packaging
for nutrient
solutions,
catheters, gloves
and breathing
masks
No data on effects
of environmental
exposures (64)
Independent studies
needed (66)
Not bioaccumulative (68)
Biodegradable (68)
No endocrine
potential (68)
More lipophilic
and 3x greater
potential to leach
than DEHP (67)
Might trigger peroxisome proliferation like DEHP (20)
No testicular effects (67)
Low sensitisation (65)
Mild acute toxicity (68)
Mild to moderate developmental toxicity (68)
Not genotoxic (67)
200 mg/kg bw/
day (development
and foetotoxicity)
Medical products
and packaging
Research needed
on reproductive
toxicology (67)
Polyadipates
(several CAS)
Leaching 10x to
100x times lower
than DEHP (74)
Low-cost (74)
Durability (74)
Biodegradable (68)
Migration can be
a problem (65)
Higher
volatility (65)
Mild sensitisation (68)
No data
Gastric tubes
Developmental
and reproductive
toxicity data non
existent (67)
No data on bioaccumulation (68)
Low migration
potential (65)
Glycerides, castor-oil-mono-hydrogenated, acetates – COMGHA
(736150-63-3)
Low migration
potential (65)
Low volatility (65)
Epoxidized soybean oil – ESBO
(8013-07-8)
Low volatility (65)
Biodegradable
in aerobic environments (68)
24
No carcinogenicity
No hazards or human
health risks to workers(75)
Asthma in workers (68)
Bioaccumulative (68)
68 mg/kg bw/
day (foetoxicity)
Medical devices
circuits
No comprehensive
study on toxic effects
or environmental
exposures (64)
> 1000 mg/
kg bw/day
Tubing, connectors, dialysis
catheters,
fluid bags
Data on reproductive
toxicity missing (65)
No data on environmental exposures (68)
Skin and eye irritation (76) 100 mg/kg bw/
Repeated exposure
day (liver weight)
suspected to have
effects on kidney, liver,
testis and uterus (76)
Alternative
Material (CAS)
Advantages
Disadvantages
Toxicity
Data
Use
Further
Research
needed
Ethylene vinyl
acetate – EVA
(24937-78-8)
Biocompatibility (66, 67)
Good flexibility (66, 67)
Durability (66, 67)
Resistance to
UV (66, 67)
EVA-based devices
are usually assembled
with DEHP-made
connectors (68)
No data available (67)
Parenteral and enteral
administration devices
Blood storage
containers
No carcinogenicity or health data
available (67)
Polyethylene – PE
(9002-88-4)
Biocompatibility (66)
Inertness (66)
Lower leaching (66)
Not biodegradable (68)
Need of additives
(stabilisers) (66)
Low toxicity (64)
Tubing, packaging films, sutures,
blood collection
and infusion lines
No data on longterm effects on
humans (66, 67)
Polypropylene – PP
(9003-07-0)
Biocompatibility (66)
Flexibility (66)
Durability (66)
Need of additives
(stabilisers) (66)
Propylene is a respiratory
toxicant in high
exposures in animals (77)
Leachate not acutely
toxic to aquatic
organisms (78)
Tubing, bags and
parenteral nutrition
No data on longterm effects on
humans (66, 67)
Silicone (90337-93-2)
Durability (63)
Higher patient
compliance (67)
High price (66)
No reproductive or
teratogenic effects (67)
Low toxicity (79)
Catheters, tubing
(endotracheal, etc),
dialysis machines,
blood oxygenators,
chemotherapy
ports, shunts, joint
replacement, heart
valves, wound care,
and contact lenses
Data on developmental and reproductive toxicity
missing (66, 67)
Polyurethane – PU
(9009-54-5)
Durability (66)
Sterilisation capacity (80)
Biodegradability (80)
Use of hazardous
intermediates (8)
High cost (66)
Can cause irritation
in dust form (64)
Endotracheal tubes
No toxicity data
available (67)
Latex
(98-82-8)
Durability (81)
Excellent barrier to infection
Cheap price
Allergic responses (82)
Hazardous products
used in the production
Allergic responses noted
in healthcare workers, patients and the
general population (82)
Catheters, surgical and
examination gloves
No data on long term
effects on humans
Acrylonitrile and styrene
are classified as possible
human carcinogens (83)
Butadiene is a known
human carcinogen (83)
Volatility of styrene (83)
Leachate not acutely toxic to aquatic
organisms (78)
Components of monitoring devices, urinary
bags, intravenous bags
No data on long term
effects on humans
Data on human
toxicity lacking (66)
Di(2-ethylhexyl)
adipate – DEHA
(103-23-1)
Sulfonic acids,
C10-21-alkane,
Ph esters – ASE
(91082-17-6)
TA B LE 2 . Applications, advantages, disadvantages, toxicity and main knowledge gaps of known alternative
materials to PVC in medical devices (Adapted from reference (64)
Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene – ABS
(9003-56-9)
A concern that has been raised by a study from
Genay and coworkers is that not all DEHP-free
devices are in practice DEHP-free, as DEHP continues to be used in smaller quantities below
the thresholds of contamination defined by
REACH (0.1% by weight) (84). According to this
study only two out of nine tested medical devices (infusion and extension sets) manufactured
with alternative plasticisers were truly DEHP
free. These results point to the necessity for
manufacturers to verify the purity of raw materials for all plastics used in the composition
of the various parts of a medical device and not
just PVC (84).
25
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Chapter 3
Alternatives to bisphenol A
The hazardous properties of BPA and those of
some of its alternatives have been reviewed recently in several studies (12, 59, 85, 86). None
of these reviews looked specifically at BPA alternatives in the medical device industry. The
SCENIHR report on BPA in medical devices
made only a brief overall note of existing studies on both bisphenol S and bisphenol F toxicity
(12). The most thorough review was the ANSES
report, which identified 73 alternatives to BPA,
including 21 for polycarbonate plastic, 18 for epoxy resins and 34 for thermic paper (85). One
common conclusion from all the reviews is that
because BPA is used ubiquitously, there is no
single replacement for all industrial solutions.
As for phthalates, the substitution of BPA can
be done by replacing BPA with chemical alternatives or by substituting the plastic polymer
with another plastic polymer or material.
Other bisphenols have been indicated as potential substitutes for BPA. This is the case for
bisphenol S, bisphenol F and bisphenol AP (although there is no indication at the European
level that bisphenol AP is being used in medical devices) (see Table 3). However, existing
data shows that due to their similar structure
they can have similar or even worse health effects than BPA (11, 87). Other bisphenols like
bisphenol M and BADGE are used in medical
devices but cannot be used as alternatives to
BPA (11). Known alternatives to BPA or to the
plastic polymer containing BPA that are used
in medical devices include many of the alternatives for phthalates such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, silicone and acetylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (see Table 2). Other
common replacements that will not be detailed
in this report include ceramic, stainless steel,
glass and acrylic. The information available for
the alternatives to BPA in medical devices is
considerably less than that existing for phthal-
26
ate alternatives. More specific BPA alternatives
have only appeared more recently and information about them is much more sparse and the
data gaps much bigger.
Manufacturers already replacing BPA in their
medical devices include, for example, Didactic (www.didactic.fr) (88), Technoflex (www.
technoflex.net) (89), Mamivac (www.mamivac.
com), Fresenius Medical Care (www.fmc-ag.
com) and Nipro Europe (www.nipro-europe.
com).
Two recent studies, one of them including medical devices containing alternative substances to polycarbonate plastic, have found that
many of the alternative products also leached
chemicals with estrogenic activity (90, 91).
However, one of the studies identified products made with glycol modified polyethylene
terephthalate (PETG), and cyclic olefin polymer
and co-polymer resins (COP and COC) as potential alternatives that did not release chemicals
with detectable estrogenic activity under the
conditions tested (91). The applications, advantages, disadvantages, toxicity data and main
knowledge gaps for known replacements of
BPA are presented in Table 4. A substance that
has been indicated as a potential substitute for
BPA in some reviews is a polyamide registered
as Grilamid TR-90TM (CAS 163800-66-6). However, as little information was found about this
polyamide and concrete use in medical devices
we have not detailed its characteristics in the
Table.
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
TABL E 3 . Applications, advantages, disadvantages, toxicity and main
TA B LE 4 . Applications, advantages, disadvantages, toxicity and main
knowledge gaps of possible bisphenol alternatives to BPA in medical devices.
knowledge gaps of potential BPA replacements in medical devices.
Alternative
Bisphenols
(CAS)
Bisphenol
S – BPS
(80-09-1)
Advantages
Stability
Resistance to
sunlight
Bisphenol
F – BPF
(620-92-8)
Disadvantages
Estrogenicity (92)
Leaches from
polymers
Less degradable
than BPA (93)
Widespread
exposure in human
populations (94)
No genotoxicity (11)
Uterotrophic activity (11)
Estrogenicity (87)
Anti-androgenic
activity (11)
Genotoxic effects (11)
Uterotrophic activity (11)
BOX 11
Concerns about BPA in dental materials
BPA has been detected in the saliva of patients
after dentistry treatments (103). In dental materials, BPA is used during the synthesis of the
monomers of dental composites, sealants, cements and orthodontic appliances. The handling
and polymerisation of these substances is partly
done inside the oral cavity of patients.
The majority of dental composites are based on
bisphenol A glycidyl methacrylate (bis-GMA),
but can also contain bisphenol-A dimethacrylate
(bis-DMA) or ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylate (bis-EMA). BPA is never present in its pure
state, but can appear either as an impurity from
the synthesis process or can leach into the saliva
as result of the hydrolysis of bis-DMA (104-106).
A recent study found increased concentrations
of BPA in both saliva and urine after composite placement (107). Different studies have also
demonstrated that BPA is released from dentistry material into the oral cavity in a time-dependent manner (108). Most studies have found that
levels of BPA in both saliva and urine return to
pre-restoration levels in the space of hours or
days, but additional studies are needed to address the effects of those peaks in human health
and in patients with multiple large restorations.
The SCHENIHR report on BPA in medical devices
has reviewed thoroughly existing exposure and
28
Toxicity
Data
Lowest NOAEL
(no observed
adverse effect
level) (critical
endpoint) (65)
Use
10 mg/kg/d
(hyperplasia and
intestinal distension)
Medical and
dentistry material
50 mg/kg/d
(reproduction)
Medical and
dentistry material
toxicity studies of BPA in dental materials (12).
Healthcare practitioners should be particularly
cautious about placing composites containing
BPA in pregnant women. Manufacturers should
correctly label their products and develop materials with less estrogenic properties (105, 109).
Practitioners of dental restoration work should
prefer alternative materials that do not contain
mercury, do not release BPA and that do not put
at risk the health of patients.
Further
Research
needed
Very limited
number of in
vivo studies, no
data on chronic
and human
toxicity (11)
Alternative
Material
(CAS)
Advantages
Disadvantages
Toxicity
Data
Use
Further
Research
needed
Cyclic olefin polymers - COC/COP
(2600-43-2)
Clarity (85)
Extended shelf-life (95)
High purity (95)
Sterilisation resistance (95)
Biocompatibility (95)
Price (85)
Styrene is classified
as a possible human
carcinogen (83)
Lack of estrogenic activity (91)
Medical syringes,
catheters, medical
diagnostic components
No information on
toxicity or ecotoxicity
Poly-lactic
acid – PLA
(26199-51-6)
Biocompatibility (96)
Produced from a
renewable resource (86)
No chemicals of
concern (86)
High cost (97)
Slow degradation
rate (97)
Might require
plasticisers (86)
Production can be
problematic (86)
Durability (86)
Heat sensitive (98)
No known health
effects (86)
Medical implants,
bone fixation devices
No data on chronic
and human toxicity
Polyetherimide
(61128-46-9)
Good technical,
mechanical and electrical properties (85)
Heat resistance (85)
No known human
health effects (4)
Low acute toxicity
Resins for healthcare
applications, sterilisation trays, dentist
devices, pipettes
No data on chronic
and human toxicity
Polyethersulfone – PESU
(25667-42-9)
Durability (85)
Sterilization resistance (85)
Releases chemicals with
estrogenic activity (91)
Very persistent in
the environment
Contains BPS (85)
PESU does not show
estrogenic activity but
its metabolites do (99)
Medical tubing, dialysers,
orthopaedic, dental and
surgical instruments
No data on chronic
and human toxicity
Polyphenylsulfone – PPSU
(25608-64-4)
Resistance to UV and
temperature (85)
Not biodegradable (100)
Might contain carbon
black (potential carcinogenic substance) (100)
Not harmful to human health (100)
Medical tubing, orthopaedic, dental and
surgical instruments
General lack of
toxicity data
Terephthalate
polymers –
PET / PETG
(several CAS)
Safe for use in medical devices (101)
Stability (4)
Cost (59)
Lack of performance at
high temperatures (4)
Some products might
leach endocrine disrupting chemicals (4)
No genotoxicity (4)
No toxicity (4)
No suspected risks to
human health (59)
No suspected risks to
the environment (59)
Lack of estrogenic activity (91)
Heart valves,
endovascular
devices, sutures and
vascular grafts
No data on chronic
and human toxicity
Tritan
copolyesterTM
Heat resistance (86)
Clarity (86)
Durability (86)
Flexibility (86)
Sterilisation (86)
Releases chemicals with estrogenic
activity (90, 91)
Higher cost (86)
Contradictory data
regarding estrogenicity (86, 90, 102)
No skin irritation or
sensitisation (86)
IInfusion devices,
syringes, medical devices
housing, renal and blood
apparatus components
Independent studies needed
Very few in vivo
and human
studies (11)
29
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Chapter 4
Best practices in European healthcare
Healthcare facilities and professionals play an
important role in the substitution of hazardous
chemicals. They have both an ethical responsibility to use products that are less hazardous
for patients and an enormous purchasing power that can push manufacturers in the right direction. In Europe, public procurement of goods
accounts for 16% of the European market. In
fact, public authorities purchase large amounts
of products and services for the healthcare
sector alone. Healthcare facilities are major
consumers of standard products and materials — everything from electronic equipment to
paper, hospital gowns, packaging materials, paper towels, surgical instruments, to name but a
few — and eighty per cent of these products are
thrown away after a single use.
Hospitals throughout Europe are working to
minimise the exposure of their patients to
hazardous chemicals. The first step of many
hospitals has been to identify which products
contain substances of concern and develop an
internal substitution strategy/policy. Many have
launched substitution projects, particularly targeting DEHP and PVC in medical devices. These
strategies and policies help hospitals in their
purchasing decisions.
In 2008, HCWH published a report with information, examples, and guidance for healthcare
facilities to improve their purchasing decisions
regarding chemicals – Guide to Choosing Safer
Products and Chemicals: Implementing Chemicals Policy in Health Care (available online at
noharm-uscanada.org/sites/default/files/documents-files/57/Guide_to_Safer_Chems.pdf).
For the present report, HCWH Europe has collated information on best practices in European hospitals and approaches towards non-toxic
healthcare.
30
31
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
Karolinska University Hospital
substitution programme (Sweden)
Hospital of Southern Jutland
substitution project (Denmark)
TA B LE 5 . Karolinska University
Hospital – substitution levels of PVC
and phthalates in medical devices
Medical Device
The Hospital of Southern Jutland started a substitution project in 2005 to replace medical
devices containing PVC. The project focused
on medical devices coming into contact with
patients, primarily neonates and children.
At the beginning of the project the alternatives were 2.5 to 3 times more expensive, but
nowadays there is no difference in price at
this hospital. The alternative products supplied by different manufacturers had the
same quality and applicability as the products containing hazardous substances (110).
Karolinska University Hospital is conducting an
active substitution programme in agreement
with the Stockholm County Council chemicals
strategy. Since 2006 the procurement of substances in the list has declined by 88%, with
some substances having been completely
phased out. All the divisions and departments of
the hospital follow the substitution programme.
Table 5 shows an overview of some of the products and the correspondent substitution levels
for PVC and phthalates at the hospital.
Stockholm County Council has a strategy in
place to phase out or reduce the use of certain
groups of chemicals in all their realms of activity, including healthcare (111). The Swedish local
and national governments were behind the implementation of the phase-out strategy, expected to be concluded by 2016. The strategy covers
several chemical classes including phthalates,
PVC, BPA, brominated flame-retardants, mercury and glutaraldehyde. Products that contain
substances to be phased out cannot be purchased and products that contain substances to
be reduced can only be purchased in exceptional cases. The phthalates BBP, DBP and DEHP are
on the phase-out list whilst BPA and the phthalates di(2-methoexyethyl) phthalate, diisoheptyl phthalate, disobutyl phthalate, DIDP, DINP,
DNOP are on the reduction list.
The County Council also started a project in
2004 to progressively phase out PVC examination gloves in its hospitals. These gloves are
among the most extensively used products in
healthcare settings and can contain as much as
50% of PVC. The adopted procurement guidelines required that gloves be free of phthalates,
PVC, latex and powder and have only low levels
32
Anaesthesia products
60-80%
Blood collection products
80-100%
Blood monitoring systems
60-80%
Drainage systems
60-80%
Enteral and parenteral feeding
products
0-20%
Gloves: Examination
80-100%
Gloves: Surgical
80-100%
Infusion products
60-80%
Laboratory products
80-100%
PVC-free Paediatrics and
Neonatology Department
in the Westfriesgasthuis (The Netherlands)
Stockholm County
Council’s phase-out list (Sweden)
of rubber additives. The guidelines address not
only the hazard of phthalates but also the problem that both latex and powders in gloves can
trigger allergenic reactions.
Nitrile, neoprene and polyurethane have been
recommended as substitutes for PVC and latex
in examination gloves. The procurement guidelines adopted by the Stockholm County Council
not only allowed the replacement of PVC gloves
but also resulted in a progressive lowering of
the price of the nitrile gloves. Over a 5-year
period, the price of nitrile gloves decreased by
one half.
Doctors and nurses in the Westfriesgasthuis
Hospital pushed for a procurement policy to
phase out PVC medical devices in the Neonatology and Paediatrics Department. The policy
covers all product categories used in the department and allows for substitution of a majority of the products (80-100%). The hospital
has not carried out a thorough assessment of
Substitution
Level
Parenteral infusion devices and sets
40-60%
Urology and incontinence products
80-100%
the costs, but estimated a slight increase in the
costs in the short-term. Contrary to common
belief, they found that some of the alternatives
were cheaper than the PVC-containing ones.
PVC-free Neonatal Intensive
Care Units of the Vienna
Hospitals Association (Austria)
To avoid unnecessary health burdens for premature babies, the Vienna Hospitals Association adopted a PVC-free policy in their Neonatal
Intensive Care Units. The criteria cover invasive
consumables and products that come into contact with the skin of babies. In the Neonatology Unit of the Glanzing Children’s Hospital,
the phase-out of PVC started in 2001 and the
PVC content of invasive medical products was
halved by 2010, with an estimated increase in
prices of less than 15% (112).
33
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
HCWH Europe’s Recommendations
Chapter 5
Labelling requirements for
hazardous chemicals in medical
devices should be expanded
Recommendations and Conclusions of
Health Care Without Harm Europe
A number of governments, regulatory authorities, healthcare systems, hospitals, healthcare
professionals and medical devices manufacturers have endorsed a move towards medical devices that are free from hazardous chemicals,
so that patients do not have
to be exposed to unnecessary
“Health Care Without Harm risks when safer alternatives
are available. This is even more
Europe will continue to raise important when patients’ expoawareness on the potential
sure can be minimised without
compromising medical care.
exposure of patients to
It should be simple enough to
hazardous chemicals via
prefer a device that does not inmedical devices and to
crease health risks for patients.
disseminate and promote
In June 2013, HCWH Europe
safer alternatives.”
launched a declaration asking
for the phase-out of hazardous
chemicals in medical devices.
The declaration was supported by international
and European organisations representing more
than 500 hospitals, medical institutions and
healthcare systems and 16 million healthcare
professionals (noharm-europe.org/documents/
declaration-safer-medical-devices).
This HCWH Europe report shows that the medical device industry is already phasing out hazardous chemicals like phthalates and BPA from
their products. The availability of alternatives
confirms that this change can be done and the
existing research, even if limited, shows that
the choice of a device can make a difference in
exposure terms. Although concerns have been
raised in the past regarding the higher cost of
safer alternatives, this is not the experience of
the healthcare providers that have undertaken
substitution. Indeed, the health costs associated with the use of medical devices containing
hazardous chemicals are either not accounted for or highly undervalued. For example,
the United Nations Environment Programme,
34
using existing numbers for 2004, reported that
globally almost 10% of the deaths are related
to environmental exposures (113). Furthermore,
the case studies presented in this report show
that there is not always a difference in price,
and, if there is, it is likely to be negligible in the
long term. Health Care Without Harm Europe
will continue to raise awareness on the potential exposure of patients to hazardous chemicals via medical devices and to disseminate and
promote safer alternatives.
•
•
Introduce obligatory labelling of hazardous substances in medical devices.
Develop harmonised environmental criteria for hazardous chemicals in medical devices.
The labelling of DEHP introduced in Directive
2007/47/EC has been a driver for substitution
by raising awareness in the healthcare community about the chemical composition of everyday products. Labelling increases information
for healthcare staff. Therefore, labelling requirements should be expanded to other substances, besides DEHP, such as other phthalates and
BPA. Improved disclosure of product ingredients would allow healthcare professionals to
better understand where these substances are
present and to prioritise their replacement. The
EU Ecolabel and the Nordic Swan label, among
others, can help establish harmonised environmental criteria for medical devices and different groups of hazardous chemicals to avoid any
gaps or inconsistencies. Moreover, the adoption
of obligatory labelling for hazardous chemicals
in medical devices will increase general awareness on the issue pushing patients and healthcare professionals and facilities to demand safer products.
European legislation must protect
European citizens and, in particular,
the most vulnerable groups, by
creating the conditions to rapidly
reduce or eliminate human
exposure to hazardous chemicals
such as phthalates and bisphenol
A contained in medical devices.
•
Apply the precautionary principle in
EU legislation by creating a regulatory
framework that requires the phase-out
of hazardous chemicals, such as phthalates and BPA contained in medical
devices, and protects the safety of patients and healthcare workers.
Legislation has a crucial double role in both
protecting patients and consumers from exposure to hazardous chemicals and in sparking
innovation. The adoption of strict progressive
pieces of legislation can be a huge driver of
innovation and push for the invention and development of safer alternatives (112). The inclusion of certain phthalates in the Authorisation
List under REACH, for example, has led to an
increase in the number of patented alternatives
(114). Therefore, an expected phase-out of hazardous chemicals in medical devices, under the
new Medical Devices Regulation, would also ultimately lead to an increase in innovation in the
health technology sector.
Standards for pre-market evaluation
of medical devices should include
more data on chemicals used
in medical devices and allow
a performance comparison
of individual substances
•
•
•
Avoid regrettable substitutions.
Improve data requirements for medical
devices approval.
Subject medical devices (articles) to the
requirements of the REACH Regulation.
Innovation cannot be the only driver for regulation. The safety evaluation of medical devices
also needs to be improved. The substitution of
a hazardous chemical with a structurally similar substance to minimise impact on the manufacturing of the product or with a substance
for which toxicity data is not available must be
avoided (114).
A key element for generating data on chemicals used in medical devices is reforming the
existing data requirements, which hamper the
development of adequate data and safer alternatives. Currently a medical device has to pass
a minimum benchmark as defined by a series
of standards (ISO 10993) in order to be approved for use. The benchmark itself produces
little toxicological data. No comprehensive toxicological testing, of the sort that would allow
relative performance of individual compounds,
or post-marketing evaluation, which would
35
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
follow clinical outcomes caused by varying composition of devices, is apparently in place. Even
worse, if a compound has a history of use, then
its on-going use is assured. For example, continued use of DEHP is justified on the grounds
that it has been used for many years and that it
helps in treating patients, regardless of its negative health impacts. Better evidence and technical performance of alternatives is needed to
guarantee that safer alternatives are used.
Increase transparency of the
market authorisation process
for medical devices
is a growing industry with a high demand for
equipment that can, through responsible purchasing policies, drive the market. Hospitals are
increasingly demanding products that are free
of certain groups of chemicals, thereby driving
research, innovation and lowering the market
price of the products. The introduction of green
procurement criteria at the regional, national
and European levels can lead to the phase-out
of hazardous chemicals in medical devices. An
attempt was made in 2014 while setting EU GPP
criteria for electric and electronic medical devices (see p. 13).
Conclusions
Funding for research and
• Improve the access to the authorisation development of alternative
data on medical devices.
substances and products and
for clinical and epidemiological
The market authorisation for medical devices projects that compare the
needs to be improved to ensure that approved performance of these alternatives
medical devices are both efficient and safe for should be prioritised
patients. The European Commission’s database
on devices approved in the European market
(Eudamed) should be publicly available, so that
procurers, researchers and other stakeholders
have easy access to data on the devices. Clinical data used to approve devices should also
be made publicly available so that healthcare
professionals can better evaluate the risks and
benefits of the medical products and make informed decisions.
Sustainable procurement guidelines
should provide incentives for
the substitution of hazardous
chemicals in medical devices
•
•
Adopt EC Green Public Procurement
(GPP) criteria for chemicals contained
in medical devices.
Adopt regional and national strategies
and tools to phase out hazardous chemicals in medical devices, such as the
substitution group of chemicals created
by the Swedish Environmental Management Council and the Swedish County
Councils (see p. 16).
Procurement practices can contribute to a
quicker phase-out of certain hazardous chemicals in medical devices by driving manufacturers to develop alternatives to those chemicals/products and by assessing if the available
alternatives are feasible. The healthcare sector
36
•
•
•
Make available research funds for clinical and epidemiological studies on
chemical exposure, particularly for
comparing exposure and outcomes in
patients being treated with similar devices but containing different chemicals.
Prioritise research and innovation funding for the development of safer products that reduce chemical exposure of
all types in the health technology sector.
Provide more incentives for healthcare
facilities to consider substitution.
Governmental authorities should support the
development of safer alternatives to medical devices containing hazardous chemicals
and prioritise funding for the development of
those substitutes. The diversion of funding for
these alternatives can be complementary to the
adoption of stricter regulations.
European manufacturers of medical devices, under some regulatory pressure, have
increased the development of alternatives to
both phthalates and BPA in medical devices.
In the case of phthalates, the Danish medical
device industry has taken a lead and supported
the view of many healthcare professionals and
NGOs that a phase-out of phthalates is possible
and should be promoted (7).
As new alternatives appear on the market,
it is of utter importance to weigh their benefits. Unfortunately, for many of the new alternative substances and materials chronic and
sub-chronic toxicity studies are still missing.
However, different studies have pointed out
that many of these alternatives show better
toxicological profiles than certain phthalates
and/or BPA (65-67). Our analysis of the existing
alternatives reveals knowledge gaps for many
of the alternatives, particularly the ones for
BPA that in some cases have appeared more recently on the market.
However, inert polymers that leach fewer chemicals are less likely to cause harm than continued use of those that leach large quantities of
phthalates or BPA. The benefits of substitution
might take many years to be apparent, and the
extent of the benefit may never be totally clear,
but that does not mean it is not favourable to
carry out substitution, reducing exposure to a
potentially harmful substance. In the absence
of sufficient data for a full risk-benefit analysis of a medical device, substitution is the best
course of action.
37
Non-toxic Healthcare: Alternatives to Phthalates and Bisphenol A in Medical Devices
12.
Preliminary opinion on the safety of the use of bisphenol A in medical devices. Luxembourg:
Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), 2014.
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Aschberger K, Castello P, Hoekstra E, Karakitsios S, Munn S, Pakalin S, et al. Bisphenol A and
baby bottles: challenges and perspectives. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European
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Rose R, Priston M, Rigby-Jones A, Sneyd J. The effect of temperature on di (2 - ethylhexyl) phthalate leaching from PVC infusion sets exposed to lipid emulsions. Anaesthesia.
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Swan SH, Main KM, Liu F, Stewart SL, Kruse RL, Calafat AM, et al. Decrease in anogenital
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Matsumoto M, Hirata-Koizumi M, Ema M. Potential adverse effects of phthalic acid esters on
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Hauser R, Calafat A. Phthalates and human health. Occupational and environmental medicine.
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Swan SH, Sathyanarayana S, Barrett ES, Janssen S, Liu F, Nguyen RHN, et al. First trimester
phthalate exposure and anogenital distance in newborns. Human Reproduction. 2015.
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Notes
46
Notes
47
Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) Europe is a non-profit
European coalition of over 70 hospitals, healthcare systems,
healthcare professionals, local authorities, research/academic
institutions and environmental and health organisations.
HCWH Europe works to transform the health sector so that
it becomes ecologically sustainable and a leading advocate
for environmental health and justice across the globe.
HCWH Europe gratefully acknowledges the financial support of
the European Commission. HCWH Europe is solely responsible
for the content of this document and the views expressed do
not reflect the official views of the European Commission.
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